Lance Lahnert: My 2 cents

■ Tom Panger: Man, all my favorite Amarillo Indepdent School District people are retiring. Tom spent 35 years with AISD, and has been a terrific friend and football official for 36 years. He retires as principal at Bivins Elementary, and a celebration will be from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at the school. Enjoy the golf, Tom.

■ Craig Shores: A tip of the cap to Highland Park High School for its selection of Shores as head football coach. He’s a great guy who knows his football.

■ Happy State Bank Athletes Banquet: I enjoyed the evening and seeing all that athletic talent under one roof. Loved the speeches from Tascosa and Bushland wrestlers Nick Herrmann and Shelby Morrison, along with Dumas volleyball coach Jack Wilson and Wellington football coach Wade Williams.

■ Texas Tech Athletic Director Kirby Hocutt: The firing of Tech baseball coach Dan Spencer wasn’t an easy call for Hocutt, but I admire the decision. The message has been sent to several Tech coaches: Start being competitive in Big 12 play or you will be getting your mail at a new address.

■ Jeff Smith: The Bushland baseball program under Smith is a shining light of consistent playoff excellence.

■ Chris Marks: The Clarendon College women’s basketball coach showed his class Tuesday by showing up in Amarillo to participate in the signing of Caprock’s Jae Carrasco. Nice job, coach.

Thumbs Down

■ Dwight Howard: I don’t care how rich or talented you are or what comes out of your mouth. Never rooting for you again. You should be ashamed of getting your coach fired.